XG Sciences launches graphene-stabilized silicon anode materials for Li-ion batteries
11 April 2013
XG Sciences, Inc. (XGS), a manufacturer of graphene platelets, has launched silicon anode materials for Li-ion batteries, with immediate availability. The new anode material is produced through proprietary manufacturing processes and uses the company’s xGnP graphene nanoplatelets to stabilize silicon particles in a nano-engineered composite structure.
The material displays significantly improved charge storage capacity—around 4x that of conventional anode materials—with good cycle life and high efficiencies. Rob Privette, VP Energy Markets for the company, said that the exact performance of the new anode materials will depend on the specific battery formulations used by cell manufacturers. XGS has demonstrated capacity of 1500 mAh/g with low irreversible capacity loss and stable cycling performance.
We are pleased to announce the immediate availability of this new high-capacity anode product. Our new Silicon-graphene anode material, when used in combination with our existing xGnP graphene products as conductive additives, provides significantly higher energy storage than conventional battery materials. We are working with battery makers to translate this exciting new material into batteries with longer run-time, faster charging and smaller sizes than today’s batteries.
One of the key focus areas of our research team was to produce a material that can be inserted relatively easily into the complex battery production processes that are used today. Our goal was to minimize the need for major changes to electrode coating processes or assembly techniques.
We expect initial adoption in the highly-competitive consumer electronics markets that are dominated by Asian battery makers, but we also have research and development partners that are focused on hybrid and electric vehicles, grid storage, military, and specialty industrial applications. Over time, we anticipate formulating custom nano-engineered anode materials with specific properties for each of these major markets.
—Rob Privette
Two of the company’s strategic partners, POSCO and Hanwha Chemical, already manufacture electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries, noted Mike Knox, XGS CEO. One licensee, Cabot Corporation, recently introduced their first battery additive based on XGS technology. XGS is also working with development partners such as Georgia Tech, several large battery manufacturers, and several of the US National Laboratories, Knox said.
Last fall, the US Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded XGS a contract to develop low-cost, high-energy Si/graphene anodes for Li-ion batteries for use in extended range electric vehicle applications. XG Sciences is leading a team that includes battery maker LG Chem Power, Inc. and the Georgia Institute of Technology. (Earlier post.)
Wonder how long it will take the 100+ existing battery manufacturers to use this superior electrode material to mass produce greatly improved (1000+ Wh/Kg) batteries?
This could be what future extended range BEVs have been waiting for?
Posted by: HarveyD | 11 April 2013 at 07:47 AM
Kelly,
I expect you to be jumping up and down and celebrating now! Here is someone SHIPPING one of those breakthrough components, so please tell me you'll say something positive on this one.
:-)
Posted by: DaveD | 11 April 2013 at 08:16 AM
it will take time before a big manufacturer of batteries integrate a Si anode in mass produced battery. Si anode are notoriously unreliable, so it will require more than an announcement like this one to convince potential customers.
Posted by: Treehugger | 11 April 2013 at 08:37 AM
@Treehugger....Sigh.
"Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?"
Posted by: DaveD | 11 April 2013 at 08:45 AM
Regardless of what naysayers are posting, improved lower cost EV batteries will be mass produced before 2020 and many million lower cost BEVs will be built every year from 2017/2018 and onward.
ICEVs are on their 'progressive' way out.
HEVs and PHEVs many survive a few more years but they will also be phased out.
Pushing CAFE to 75+ mpg may help?
The world will soon recognize Pres. Obama (and his team) efforts to accelerate development and mass production of lower cost EV batteries and electrified vehicles.
Posted by: HarveyD | 11 April 2013 at 09:22 AM
I think Kelly fainted from low blood sugar induced by a lack of doom&gloom :)
Posted by: Herm | 11 April 2013 at 10:28 AM
Not on the shelves yet but much closer to that point than the research. My prediction inspired by the Lux forecast reported here in the last month will be that the anodes will appear first in consumer electronics. For example people will pay for greater energy in smart phone cells without losing the slimness of their phone. Initially after market replacement cells until the technology becomes reliable enough for big manufacturers to put their name to it.
Car manufacturers/customers aren't going to want to have major investments in risky technologies. Look how long it took for Toyota to start using li-ion: they are on the conservative end of the spectrum, but Boeing may be wishing that they were just as cautious.
Posted by: DavidJ | 11 April 2013 at 11:02 AM
Envia Systems and CalBattery already have Si-carbon and Si-graphene anodes out there. 2020 is a ridiculous goal considering their recent developments.
Posted by: Zhukova | 11 April 2013 at 11:05 AM
Power users are willing to pay $1000/kWh and more to run their electronics; a laptop battery that lasts for an overseas flight is worth its weight in gold to some people. Traction batteries have much less tolerance for high prices, so those will be on the tail end of the adoption curve.
It's coming. Patience.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 11 April 2013 at 11:23 AM
isn't cathode storage capacity limiting? while increasing anode capacity helps too, but too way smaller degree than cathode
Posted by: As Aha | 11 April 2013 at 11:38 AM
@As Aha,
As you say, the cathode has historically been the limiting electrode, but surprisingly, many of the recent announcement breakthroughs have been on the cathode side.
There are advances coming on both sides and electrolytes too. Eventually they will come together in cells.
As EP said: Patience Grasshopper. Ok, I added the Grasshopper part.
Posted by: DaveD | 11 April 2013 at 11:52 AM
@As Aha
CalBattery and Envia Systems both are licensed to use the Argonne Labs developed cathode in their batteries. That cathode has 250-300 mAh/g much better than most cathodes on the market. Their batteries give 400-525 Wh/kg. Rice University announced two weeks ago that they are using Vanadium and graphene ribbons in their cathode to get 425 mAh/g, with long life and high current at the same time. A battery with their cathode and si-graphene anodes may get 700 Wh/kg.
Posted by: Zhukova | 11 April 2013 at 01:39 PM
@DaveD & Herm, it seems someone finally listened to me and at least put a battery(~<4X?) "breakthrough" component on the market.
I even read that the S. Korean built GM EV Spark is:
presently being produced
will have 100 or 200 mile charge range
will be ~$25,000 USD
Meanwhile, mark your calendars and we will see how long a "..material that can be inserted relatively easily into the complex battery production processes that are used today." takes to drop-in a marketed battery and meet stated specifications.
They say the squeaky wheel gets the grease...
Posted by: kelly | 11 April 2013 at 01:50 PM
The EV Spark battery doesn't have high capacity. It uses a A123 iron nanophosphate battery, probably ANR26650. It only has about 110 Wh/kg, but it charges and discharges very fast, so it will work with regenerative braking and quick charge stations. It has a long cycle life too. if its range is over 100 miles, it's because it's only the size of a golf cart.
Posted by: Zhukova | 11 April 2013 at 04:18 PM
close.. http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/29/gm-build-electric-car-korea/ "GM has vaguely mentioned plans for two other new EVs, one with a 100-mile range, another with 200."
Posted by: kelly | 11 April 2013 at 09:55 PM
http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/07/gm-ceo-akerson-confirms-200-mile-ev-in-the-works-says-death-of/ "GM CEO Dan Akerson today confirmed that the company is working on a 200-mile EV (perhaps a Spark, perhaps not)"
Posted by: kelly | 11 April 2013 at 09:58 PM
By 2020 or so, EVs with 100, 200 and 300 miles range will be progressively phased out and replaced by 400 and 500 miles range units.
Tesla may produce one of the early 400+ miles range EV by 2017/2018. Many others will follow by 2020 or so?
Of course, many Digicams, cell phones, tablets and laptops will start using superior batteries by 2016/2017 or so.
Posted by: HarveyD | 12 April 2013 at 09:26 AM
Harvey, your repetitive postings about what 'will' happen are tiresome.
You don't know, I don't know, the scientists working on them don't know how things will pan out.
Hopefully things will go smoothly, but these things are impossible to predict, especially when they rely on a host of different technologies combining.
You are not God, simply suffering to some degree from delusions of grandiosity.
If you have something sensible, rational, and fact based to share, that is wonderful, but if not please get off your soap box and give up the act as the psychic prophet.
Posted by: Davemart | 12 April 2013 at 11:39 AM
@Davemart Oh common, let HarveyD keep up the morale.
Posted by: soltesza | 12 April 2013 at 12:11 PM
Keeping up the morale? His unwarranted optimism also serves as a target for point-and-laugh from the opposition, pushing the fence-sitters away from us. Then there are his complete non-sequiturs...
I wish Harvey would exercise a lot more editorial restraint, but I've given up bugging him about it as a waste of time.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 12 April 2013 at 12:20 PM
http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/29/gm-build-electric-car-korea/
This article that Kelly found says that the GM BEV will use LG Chem batteries. They have licensed the Argonne cathodes and likely will license the Envia Systems 400 Wh/kg battery or their Si composite anodes. It would be easy to get 200 mile range from the Evia battery.
Posted by: Zhukova | 12 April 2013 at 08:33 PM
In war times, many developments are accelerated due to higher degree of survival necessity. The majority easily accepts to pay the price because of the very strong propaganda machine used.
Recently, USA spent over $100B (in 1960 dollars) to go to the moon!
Going from fossil fuel burning machine to electrified vehicles is also a matter of resources or funds and efforts allocated to it.
The same $$$B used for a single moon ride could do most of it. Should NASA be given a new role and objectives?
An article on the local paper recently explained how about 80% or the $85B/month new money printed in USA ends up in 'Tax Heavens' a few months latter. If USA recovers 30% the $$T hidden away in Tax Heavens, it could finance an accelerated program to develop and mass produce lower cost higher performance EV batteries and lower cost solar energy capture, distribution and storage systems in the next 7 years or so.
This is not a dream but should be a vision for the future.
Recovering 30%/year of the $31T hidden in Tax Heavens = $9.3T in unpaid taxes. That would be more than enough to pay 100% (or up to $30K per vehicle) for the batteries in all HEVs, PHEVs and BEVs for the next 10 years of so. All those existing electrified vehicles would become economically justified and sales would take off.
Eventually, liquid fuels taxes will have to be replaced. A fair user tax could be a monthly registration fee based on vehicle weight and distance traveled.
The real savings for governments will be the reduction in current cost to support the Oil Industry, environmental, health care cost etc.
Posted by: HarveyD | 14 April 2013 at 09:23 AM
Speaking of going from fossil-burning vehicles to electric, I have made the jump (at least for local mileage).
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 15 April 2013 at 08:19 AM
E-P,
Cool! Did you get a Volt or Plug-in Prius (or a small city EV)?
Posted by: DaveD | 15 April 2013 at 03:20 PM
None of the above, and it was of US manufacture.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 15 April 2013 at 07:34 PM